Thrift or Meanness

[wintertime]

I have always picked up money if I see it in the street.Even a penny.I don't need it but cannot help myself.Is it an age thing?Perhaps being brought up on a budget.I cannot imagine kids today being bothered by a penny or so.Anyone the same or is it only me?

 

[trencherman]

I do too so it’s an age thing. Since copper pennies have been taken out of circulation (here in Canada) and I still have a few containers of ‘em, I just use them now as weight when blind baking pastry crust.

 

[topdog]

Here in the US pennies aren't worth the effort it takes to process them. If I saw a penny on the street I would walk the other way.

 

[Shelter]

No - honestly - if I find an Euro Cent on the street I'll always bend down and pick it up. My granddad as well as my parents always said: Wer den Pfennig nicht ehrt, ist des Talers nicht wert! (Who is not honoring the penny, is not worth for the thaler!)

As well I'll do all my change coins from 0,01 Cent to 0,50 Cent over the year into a glas. In the meantime I've got there € 2095,00. So you see - we have here another old saying: Kleinvieh macht auch Mist! ( Small brute makes dung too!)

And from this reason I'll too always in the future will pick up a penny at the street!

 

[dargelos]

I will always pick up anything I see on the street. Not just small coins but pens that still write, batteries with some charge left, phonecards that are still valid, tools, anything.
I have not yet found Bill Gates' wallet but I live in hope.

 

[gb2000ie]

If it's paper money, sure, but coins - no thanks - not worth the ickyness.

B.

 

[Otage]

We don't even have the euro cent in circulation. It's valid paying money, but we don't even produce them. And the smallest coin, the five euro cent, one gets them plenty anyways, especially me, since I pay croceries with cash, helps keeping the budget in control

To pick one from groung, no. They are usually dirty and worn out. I leave it to someone who can appreciate it more

 

[cacc]

yeah I do the same thing as well.

 

[brmstn69]

It's only meanness if you knock over an old lady reaching for at the same time...

 

[tonka]

I pick up nickels. Anything silver (and SHINY!).

But pennies? No. I use cash for many of my local purchases, but I leave the pennies with the cashier.

 

[trencherman]

You heard the story of this wealthy miser who died and insisted he should be allowed to pass through the pearly gates. St. Peter asks him to cite just one good deed to which he replied that he gave a starving man a penny once. St. Peter whispers this to his boss’ ear. He exasperatedly replies, give him back his penny and tell him to go to hell.

 

[mattla]

I think that I only passed up on picking up some loose change once - I think that it was a penny in a mud puddle - that did not seem worth it. I suppose it has really never made any difference but somehow picking up the change seems right.

 

[taurus2904]

Find a penny, pick it up; all day long you'll have good luck.
Put it in your pocket tight; you will have good luck all night.

(That only works if it is heads up.)

Perhaps it is an age thing -- and being mildly superstitious. Besides, who couldn't use a bit more luck now and then?

 

[mmarty]

I have been brought up to believe that pennies are a message from God and that if you see one you should pick it up because it brings good luck.

 

[c750dt]

I don't believe that picking up a penny necessarily brings good luck. I do, however, believe it's bad practice to walk past money if having it in your pocket requires no more effort than picking it up from before your foot. Pennies add up. While it may not be useful now, if you've lived in a place for a few years, chances are you can scoop up every penny you have laying around and get an easy $10 or maybe even $20 from a coin exchange kiosk.